Rail crossing



p 1930- i v w. H. WHALEN 1,775,661

RAIL CROSSING Filed Aug. 7, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A -TTORN YS.

Sept. 16,- 1930. w. H. WHALEN RAIL CROSSING:

Filed Aug. '7, 1928 Z-Sheets-Shaet 2 FJEA.

I N VEN TOR B I Vi/l/am H Whale MJBQQZ A TTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 16, 1930 UNITED .sTAY'r-Es PATENT: o FicE WILLIAM H. wnALErx, or nos enemas, CALIFORNIA, Assroivoa 'roooiv'rmuous RAIL cnossrnc :oonronmrron, or n-nno, NEVADA, .A CORPORATION ornEvAnA RAIL CROSSING Applicationfiled. Ai gu st' 7, 1928. Serial No. 297,981.

My invention relates to cross-overs as used in railroading and relates to the. type of crossing disclosed in the application of E. L.

Fairbanks for a rail crossing, Serial No.

T.) 247,305, filed Jan. 17, 1928.

While the continuous type of crossing as exemplified in the aforementioned application, is effective in reducing the shock and.

impact on a cross-over due to the passage of a train thereover, I nevertheless deem it advisable to enhance the solidity of such construction and to afford a substantial foundation therefor.

It is consequently an object of my invention to improve the foundation for a rail crossing.

Another object of my invention is to provide a rail crossing foundation particularly applicable to the type of cross-over disclosed in the above mentioned patent application.

It is further an object of my invention to provide a supporting foundation especially adapted for use with a continuous rail crossing which is capable of use for substantially the same extended period that the improved crossing can be used.

The foregoing and other objects are attained in the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan of a rail crossing constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross section of a typical crossing, the plane of section being indicated by line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows one of the rail intersections in detail the View being taken on section line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross section, the plane of section being indicated by line l4 of Fig. 3, and discloses particularly the interior arrangement of the supporting block.

In its preferred form, the rail crossing of my invention includes a supporting block of hollow construction and extended area situated below and secured to the intersection of a pair of rails usually provided with a turntable operated by mechanism enclosed in the hollow supporting block.

In the modification of the invention particularly disclosed herein, there is provided a plurality of rails 6 and 7 of the customary cross section having flanges 8 for fastening to ties or sleepers 9. At their intersections, the rails preferably merge into an enlargement 11 usually of circular contour which is provided with a central cylindrical recess 12 for-receiving a turntable 13. This turntable carries a diametral groove 14 which is adapts ed to register with either of the flange grooves 16 and 17 in the rails '6 and 7, depending upon the position of the turntable 13. Projecting from the turntable is an extension 18 passing thru the enlargement 11 and provided at its lower end with a crank 19 connected to an operating rod 21. As disclosed in the above mentioned Fairbanks application, all of the control rods 21 are linked together and upon proper. manipulation serve to revolve or ro tate the turntables 13 so that the grooves 14 can be alined with either pair of rails 6 and fl,

desired position.

T0 afford an improved foundation for the intersection 11 and also to provide an enclosure or housing for the operating mechanism 19 and 21, I preferably install below each intersection 11 a supporting block '23. This block is usually an integral casting of metal and comprises an upper plate 24.- preferably of circular contour and a similar lower plate 26, likewise of circular contour and having a considerably greater projected area than the projected area of the enlargement 11 to afford an increased bearing surface. The upper and lower plates 24 and "26 are con nected by an annular wall 27 interrupted for a portion of its circumference by an aperture 28 to permit access to the interior mechanism and passage of the rod21.

To stiifen'the entire supporting block, I

preferably form it also with integral reinforcing walls 29 extending radially on either side of the annular walls 27 and merging with the upper plate 24 and the lower plate 26. In this manner there is provided a strong but extremely light supporting memher for distributing the bearing loads of the intersection over a large area and furthermore there is aiforded an excellent housing for the moving parts of the turntable rotating mechanism.

For joining the supporting blocks detachably to the intersection of the rails, I preferably pierce the upper plates 24 and insert fastenings 31 therethru which engage clamps 32 seating on the flanges of the rails 6 and 7. By securing the rail intersection and the supporting blocks in this quickly detachable manner, it is possible to leave the foundation intact and to remove the crossing if for any reason it becomes desirable to do so.

Underneath the supporting blocks I usually provide a sub-structure which varies somewhat in accordance with the location of the crossing, but a typical case is disclosed in Fig. 2 in which is indicated a pair of sleepers 33 and 34: each of which extends under two of the supporting blocks 23. The sleepers'themselves may, if desired, rest on piling 36 while the entire sub-structure is preferably located in a pit 37 filled with crushed rock or other suitable ballast material.

The device of my invention provides an improved foundation for continuous rail crossings, is easily installed and changed and is of a length of life directly comparable to the increased length of life of a continuous rail crossing so that when once installed the entire crossing and foundation can be left intact for a long period of years.

It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the form of the rail crossing shown and described herein, as the invention, as set forth in the following claims may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

I claim:

1. A rail crossing comprising a supporting block including upper and lower parallel plates, an interrupted annular wall joining said plates, and radial reinforcing walls projecting from either side of said annular wall and extending between said upper and lower plates.

2. A rail crossing comprising a pair of intersecting rails having a recess at the intersection, a turn-table in said recess, an extension on said turn-table depending below said rails, a supporting block for said rails and said turn-table; said block comprising upper and lower parallel plates, an apertured annular wall joining said plates and radial reinforcing walls projecting from either side of said annular wall and extending between said upper and lower plates, and means engaging said extension for rotating said turn-table between two extreme positions, said means being adapted to pass through the aperture in said wall.

3. A rail crossing comprising a pair of intersecting rails having a recess at the intersection, a turn-table in said recess, an extension on said turn-table depending below said rails, a supporting block for said rails and said turn-table; said block comprising upper and lower parallel plates and an apertured annular wall joining said plates, and means engaging said extension for rotating said turn-table between two extreme posltions, said means being adapted to pass through the aperture in said wall.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM H. WHALEN. 

